Amman, Aug. 9 (Petra) – The Cabinet on Sunday approved the justifications for the draft amendment to the Independent Election Commission Law of 2026, paving the way for its referral to the Legislation and Opinion Bureau for the necessary procedures.
The proposed amendments aim to align the law with developments under the political modernisation process and enhance the Commission’s ability to exercise its constitutional and legal powers.
They clarify the scheduling of voting dates for municipal and other elections assigned to the Commission, regulate the cancellation or postponement of voting at polling and counting centres when circumstances affect the integrity of the electoral process and update the Commission’s powers in line with the Political Parties Law.
The amendments expand monitoring to include digital campaign tools and update regulations governing Commission employees. Employees will be barred from joining political parties during their service. Employees seeking to run in elections administered or supervised by the Commission must take unpaid leave 90 days before the election. If elected, they will be deemed to have resigned.
The Cabinet approved amendments to the Public Sector Human Resources Management Bylaw of 2026 concerning unpaid leave.
Under the amendments, the required period of actual service for unpaid leave will be reduced from five to three years, with no limit on its duration subject to approval by the relevant authority.
The amendments remove the requirement for employees to return to service within the last five years to qualify for a pension and standardise study leave at five years, whether inside or outside the Kingdom.
Employees on unpaid leave will be allowed to continue participating in social security, while government institutions will be required to fill vacancies resulting from unpaid leave.
Employees must notify their departments of their intention to return one year in advance.
The amendments apply to employees currently on unpaid leave under the existing bylaw as well as those granted leave under the amended bylaw.
The Cabinet approved the 2026 Regulations for the Practice of the Legal Accounting Profession to keep pace with international accounting and auditing standards and ensure the independence and impartiality of certified public accountants.
Under the new regulations, government employees in key accounting and auditing positions, as well as employees of government-owned companies and entities regulated by the Central Bank and Securities Commission, may apply for professional licenses if they have at least six years of experience.
Applicants must complete a one-year full-time training program under the supervision of a practicing certified public accountant and pass the required licensing examination.
//Petra// AK
